15 August 2005

Offer #2 made...

So, Holly and I wrote an offer on a beautiful North Portland house. The neighborhood is FANTASTIC - very racially and economically diverse. Now, the game of counter-offer, counter-counter offer, etc begins.

We bid low, since there is some work that would need to be done on the house to make it how we would like it (i.e., building a deck with French doors to it from the kitchen, refigerator, window coverings, new front door, etc.

Houses, houses, houses

Well, we're off to see more houses toay. We found one that we really like in close-in North Portland, near the rennovated Mississippi Street district. We're planning on writing an offer on it today. This whole process is a great time suck.

14 August 2005

10th Annual Portland Bridge Pedal

Today was the 10th annual Portland Bridge Pedal. It's a crazy bicycling event, the 2nd largest in the country I have been told. A total of about 18.000 bicyclists converge downtown to ride all 10 PDX briges. The Oregon Department of Transportation closes nearly every lane on all bridges for the morning. Motorists hate it, but it's a blast on a bike. The bridges are all of entirely different architecture and engineering.

The most fun was at the top of the Marquam and Fremont bridges. There, they had a Starbucks, free Clif bars, free Vita water, and rock bands playing live! It rocked! It was a huge party with great views of the city.

The only problem with the day was that the organizers misrouted us early-starters (630-7am), and we missed two bridges as a result (the Hawthorne and the Ross Island bridges). So, when I reached the finish line, I realized that I was the type of person that had to complete the 10 bridges. So, I got back in a pack of later starters and rode over the last two bridges to complete the set. Turns out that I ended up riding next to a guy who was doing the same thing.

All in all, my ride time for the 36 miles was under 2 hours.

Next year, it will be more challenging - we plan to take the entire family!

11 August 2005

1st House Offer - 86'd

Holly and found out today that our bid on the house in north Portland (see picture to the right) was refused for a higher offer. We had even sent the sellers a short letter that included a picture of us and a few reasons why we wanted the house. We thought it was a nice touch. So dd they, sort of. Our realtor told us they wanted permission to keep it since it was "so sweet". They also said that they were "sad" that we didn't get the house.

It's hard not to be offended by such a trite, superficial comment that implies their insincerity over the issue at hand. Why say anything? Or, if they really felt they needed to comment, why not just be honest and say, "Sorry, but we simply wanted/needed as much money as we could get out of the sell, even though you bid 10,000 USD above our asking price."

To be truthful, Holly and I were quite disappointed that our offer wasn't accepted. However, you just never know what's just around the corner.

So, we've already lined up a handful of cute PDX bungalows and Cape Cods to scrutinize tomorrow. We'll keep you posted on this emotional roller coaster called home hunting.

10 August 2005

Buying a new (different) home

Holly and I have reached a point where we can afford to buy a different home, and it looks like we're going to go for it. In fact, we just submitted an offer for a beautiful, charming, close-in North PDX Cape Cod house.

We took a lot of time to discuss beforehand the pros and cons for searching for a new home, including evaluating our contentment. We are entirely content with our condo and would be if things didn't work out for the purchase of a new home. However, if given the opportunity to move to a house with a more "inner-city" neighborhood and more racially mixed demographic, then should we? Monthly payments wouldn't be that much more than they are currently.

Throughout this process, I've realized that Holly and really complete each other well. While she considers all angles to a question or problem, she's much more willing to act on a gut-instinct. I, on the other hand, am extremely analytical and more suspicious of my instincts, since it's inherently emotional. So, we've realized that she counts on me to research questions or opportunities ad nauseum, and I trust her emotional IQ to point us toward God's will for our lives.

Where will we land? I'm not sure. To be honest, our offer(s) may be refused, and we may stay in our condo for the next 3 years. I'm thankful that, whatever happens, we'll be happy and content.

07 August 2005

Timothy Lake Camping

On a beautiful, sunny, warm Portland summer Friday (08.05.2005), we ran out the door, each carrying a kid in one arm and camping supplies in the other. After several well-meaning but misguided attempts to avoid Friday afternoon rush hour, I swallowed my pride and got in the long line to get out of town.

Once out of town, on the scenic Clackamas Highway (Oregon Highway 224), we were able to relax and enjoy the drive to Timothy Lake - a 3200 ft elevation reservoir nestled within the Mt. Hood National Forrest - created in 1956 by Portland General Electric company to feed the growing Portland post-war lust for energy.

A 2 hour drive east from Portland, we arrive, dusty, tired, but excited about spending the weekend with our friends, the Kearns and their four great children.

We find our campsite at nearby Clackamas Lake (Timothy Lake campsites were all snatched by 10 am that morning) 30 minutes before dusk and begin to unload the back of the car. The first order of business is, of course, to set up the tent before dark. We reach into the car to get it - it's not there! We look twice, three times - no tent. In our haste to leave town to camp, we had forgotten the single most important piece of equipment - the tent. After a short bit of disbelief and embarrassment, then laughter, we accept the extra tent that the Kearns's had brought for their boys to sleep in - a massive 4 perseon Walrus.

Everything worked out great in the end. We had a fabulous time. Saturday, we spent the late morning and early afternoon hanging out at Timothy Lake. David and Stephen even walked on the water (see photo-left)! After a quick lunch back at the campsite, we headed back to PDX so I could prepare for my 24 hour call-shift at the hospital on Sunday/Monday.

Thanks to the Kearns, our first camping trip with Bennett turned out just fine. Holly and I, both well-experienced backpackers, sure felt like novices. From now on, the tent will be the first thing to be packed for sure!